Song Credit: Pendulum by FKA Twigs
Disclaimer: I do not own these characters. They are the creative property of The CW. No copyright infringement intended.
7 - Pendulum
I've got time, but you're tired of waiting
You only want me in open spaces...
How does it feel to have me thinking about you?
Wishing that words were enough to consume you
- FKA Twigs
"Say it again and I'll kick your ass!"
"We've been through this before, Bo, you're not capable of kicking my ass." Stefan had a condescending smirk on his face and Bonnie was ready to teach him a lesson. Matt Donovan and Elena's younger brother, Jeremy, had been laughing at their back and forth. Bonnie stepped closer to Stefan, her chest puffed out.
"Want to say that again," she challenged.
Stefan dropped his voice and narrowed his eyes. "Bring it."
Matt and Jeremy cheered as Bonnie pounced on him. She attached herself to his upper body and beat her fists on his back. It took Stefan a moment to gather himself but he gripped her with both hands and managed to pull her off, gently slamming her onto the ground. Elena wandered in from the kitchen, attracted by all the noise.
"What's going on?" She asked Matt and Jeremy.
"Stefan said she couldn't kick his ass," Jeremy explained.
"Oh. In that case." Elena quickly kicked off her shoes and approached the wrestling pair. Stefan suddenly felt someone on his back, pulling him backward. Elena wrapped her arm around his neck and her legs around his torso and held him as he fell back and Bonnie scrambled off the floor to take advantage.
"Ah! They're jumping me!" Stefan cried in false horror. "You guys gotta help me!"
Matt moved from the couch and scooped up Bonnie, who shrieked with laughter as he lifted her up then brought her back down on the ground. Soon, all of them were wrestling and making so much noise they didn't hear the sound of the front door opening. Damon strolled into the living room and rolled his eyes at the sight of them.
"Hey, children!" He cried. "Everything in here costs more than your cars! You break it, good luck paying for it!"
"Ugh, thanks Grandpa, for always being a killjoy," Elena muttered as they all disentangled themselves from each other and got back on their feet.
"Sorry for not being amused by a bunch of adults playing Wrestlemania in my living-room. Look, I got the damn cups you asked for," he snapped, holding up the red Solo party cups. "Have you even ordered the pizza yet?"
"I was just about to," Elena said, swiping the cups from him as she strutted back to the kitchen. "Come on, Bon." Bonnie followed her, giving Damon a sly smile as she passed him. It had been awhile since the high school friends had all hung out together so Elena had suggested they come to Stefan's house and watch the football game, complete with pizza and wings. The girls didn't care that much for football, but it was a way to bring them all together. The only ones missing were Caroline, who'd married and moved out of Mystic Falls two years ago, and Tyler, for obvious reasons. Tyler was still good friends with Jeremy and Matt, and Bonnie wasn't sure if they'd told him about his exclusion from the get-together and she wasn't going to ask. Damon hadn't technically been apart of their high school crew, seeing as he'd graduated years before all of them, but he'd always been around, and his living at the boardinghouse secured his invite. Regardless, Bonnie was looking forward to hanging with all of them.
Bonnie didn't pay much attention to the game. She was more focused on her phone, as Liam had been texting her all day. She'd been enjoying talking to him over the last few weeks. They usually texted throughout the day, and sometimes would hold late-night phone conversations that would last for hours. He was intelligent, funny, and incredibly sweet. Bonnie wasn't sure what was keeping her from asking him out, but appreciated his patience.
When she wandered into the kitchen to refill her Coke, she felt someone creep up behind her. "Care to share the joke?" Damon asked, standing so close to her his lips were practically pressed against her ear.
"Excuse me?" She asked. He moved from behind her and took the bottle of Coke from her hand.
"You've been looking at your phone and smiling for the past hour," he elaborated. "I was just wondering what was so amusing."
"I'm sure you wouldn't get it, Damon," Bonnie replied, derisively.
"Try me."
She narrowed her eyes at him. "Why are you so worried about who I'm talking to?"
"Worried isn't the right word," he said. "Just curious. What are you doing later tonight?" His voice had dropped and he gently moved the hair from her face. "I've missed you, Bon. It's been over a week since we've-"
"Hey, is there anymore soda left?" Matt's loud voice announced his arrival. Damon quickly stepped away from Bonnie but Matt narrowed his eyes at them suspiciously.
"There's only Coke left." Bonnie answered him. Matt approached the counter and proceeded to pour himself some.
"We were talking about heading to the Grill after this," Matt told them. "You guys down?"
Damon fixed his blue eyes on Bonnie. "You down Bon Bon?"
"I don't see why not," she said with a shrug. "i could use a drink or two."
"Well, I'm definitely down for that," Damon declared. He took his cup, smirked at them, and strode out of the kitchen.
"What was that about?" Matt questioned Bonnie. "And what did I walk into a minute ago."
"Nothing," she said. "Just Damon being Damon."
"The Damon I know would've somehow gotten under your skin by now," he replied. "The lack of arguing between you two is off-putting."
"Maybe I'm tired of arguing." She took her drink and walked out.
Just as the game was coming to an end she got a call. Liam. She stepped away from her friends before picking it up.
"Hey Bonnie," Liam said, cheerfully. "I couldn't get over the fact that you've never seen a Fast and Furious movie, so I went and picked up the first one."
"You did?"
"Yeah, what do you say to a movie night?"
"Liam..."
"Hey, we've been talking for almost a month and I haven't asked you out, just like I promised," he pointed out. "I'm still not. I'm asking you in...for a completely platonic movie night."
Bonnie looked back at her friends who were all getting ready to step out. "Now's not really a good time," she told Liam, uncertainly. "Me and my friends were just about to go to the Grill."
"Well, that clearly wasn't an invitation for me to come hang out with you guys, so..."
"You know what, I go to the Grill all the time," Bonnie said, making the decision on a whim. "They don't need me around this time. I'll come watch the movie with you, and I expect it to be brilliant."
"I don't know about brilliant, but I can promise you it's fast...and furious."
"Never repeat that joke to anyone," Bonnie instructed.
"It was terrible, I'm sorry. See you soon, Bonnie."
"See you soon." Bonnie ended the call then walked over to her friends.
"You ready to go?" Stefan asked her.
"I'm going to have to rain check with you guys," she said. "Something just came up."
"Is everything okay?" Elena asked her.
"Yeah, everything's fine," she assured. "Just take a shot for me, okay." They all walked out of the house, expressing their disappointment, and reluctantly accepted Bonnie's bailing on them as they hugged her goodbye. Damon seemed the least thrilled as he embraced her.
"Am I going to see you later?" He asked in a whisper.
"Not tonight, Damon. Bye!" The last word was for Stefan and Elena who were already pulling off in Stefan's car. She gave them a wave and looked back at Damon who was grilling her. "I'm sorry, okay. I'm busy tonight." She strode off and Damon watched her go.
Bonnie was positioned high on a ladder, organizing some items on the top shelf. Her Grams was shouting instructions from the floor and Bonnie did her best not to snap back at her. It wasn't worth the headache from the scolding that would come after.
"I know what I'm doing," Bonnie said as she climbed down the ladder. "No need to yell yourself hoarse."
"What'd you say, child?" Grams snapped as Bonnie walked past her.
"Nothing," she said in a falsely sweet voice. The sound of the bell above the door went off as someone entered the shop. In waltzed, Damon Salvatore, confident stride and cocky grin in place.
"Damon?" Bonnie said his name in astonishment. He'd never before stepped foot in her shop, she wasn't even sure he knew where it was or cared to know anything about it. "What are you doing here?"
"Well, hello to you too, Bon Bon." He looked to Sheila. "Good afternoon, Ms. Bennett, you're looking radiant."
"Thank you, Damon," she said with a small smile. "It's a change seeing you in here. What brings you in today?"
"I was just in the neighborhood," he said, casually. "Thought I'd stop by and say hello. Maybe take your lovely granddaughter to lunch if she'll allow it." Sheila looked at Bonnie with a raised brow.
"Damon, why would you want to do that?" Bonnie asked with a panicked expression.
"It's just lunch with a good friend, what's the problem?" Damon said with a smirk. Bonnie looked to her Grams.
"It's up to you," Grams said with a shrug.
Bonnie sighed. "Let me grab my purse." She went into the back room and Sheila followed her.
"I hope you know what you're doing, chile."
"What do you mean?" Bonnie asked innocently as she grabbed her favorite Michael Kors bag, courtesy of Tyler Lockwood while they were together, out of her locker.
"You've been telling me about this supposedly great guy, Liam, you've been talking to yet Damon Salvatore is popping up again," Sheila said, a hint of disapproval in her tone.
"Damon and I are just friends," Bonnie assured her. "Liam and I are only talking. I'm not dating either of them."
"So neither of these boys are who you were sneaking off to go see in the middle of the night?" Sheila inquired. Bonnie's heart dropped. "I'm not stupid, chile, I know you've been trotting off to see somebody. I don't know if it's this one, I don't know if it's the nurse, or that fool, Tyler, but I know you've been smiling a lot more lately, but I've also noticed you stayed in this week."
"Grams, listen, I...
"You're a grown woman, Bonnie," she said. "I'm not going to get all in your business if you don't want me to, but I will tell you to be careful. Tyler hasn't changed in the past six years, he isn't going to change now. Damon has been known to make his way around town. You don't want to be just another conquest for him. If it's friendly, I suggest you keep it friendly."
"What about Liam?"
"If you say he's a nice guy, then I'll believe you," she said. "But take it slow." Bonnie nodded.
"Thanks Grams." She smiled and gave Sheila a quick hug before heading past her.
"I need you back by two!" Sheila called after her.
Damon and Bonnie settled at a small cafe within walking distance from the shop. It was a nice day so they decided to sit outside. Bonnie didn't fail to notice how the young waitress only seemed to be focused on Damon when she came to take their drink order, or the little flirty smile he gave her as she walked away.
"You just can't help it, can you?" Bonnie quipped with a shake of the head.
"Help what?"
"Flirting. You have to flirt with every pretty, young thing that you make eye contact with," Bonnie said.
"I didn't flirt with her, I was just being friendly," he said, then added a teasing, "Geesh, when did you get so jealous?"
"Definitely not jealous." Bonnie picked up her menu and started looking it over. "You know, as long as this place has been here I've never eaten here."
"Yeah, we all need to get out of the Grill a little more often," Damon said. "May I suggest the chicken alfredo. It's the best in town."
Bonnie nodded. "Sure, I'll try it." When the waitress came back to take their order, Damon didn't give her a second glance. Bonnie ended up going with a chicken salad instead and Damon stuck with the chicken alfredo. They chatted as they waited for their food, Damon asking about her day and what it was like running the shop with her Grams. He made some jokes, Bonnie laughed, and when he reached across the table for her hand, Bonnie panicked and pulled away.
"What are you doing?" She snapped.
"You have soft hands. I wanted to hold them," he said, innocently.
"Why did you invite me here?" She questioned in a serious manner. "We don't do things like this. We made an agreement that we wouldn't do things like this."
"We're just eating, why are you making it weird?"
"It is weird. You're being nice, you haven't made a single sarcastic remark yet, you're acting like you care about my day, and now you're trying to be affectionate. Who are you and what have you done with Damon Salvatore?"
"Would you really prefer it if I was an asshole 24/7?"
"It feels like you've tricked me into a date," Bonnie said. "We're not dating. You were very clear about how you felt about the dating thing as well. I hope that's not changing."
"Okay, first of all, I don't have to trick women into dates," Damon snapped. "So, don't flatter yourself. Second of all, if we were to go on a date, it surely wouldn't be in the middle of your shift at this place." Damon narrowed his eyes at her. "What are you so afraid of, Bonnie?"
"I'm not afraid," Bonnie said, before shifting her eyes away.
"You've been trying to distance yourself from me for the past couple weeks. Why?" Damon grilled her but Bonnie didn't reply, just pretended to study the drink menu. Damon snatched it from her hands.
"What do you want me to say, Damon?!" Bonnie exclaimed, drawing a few looks.
"Just tell me the truth," he said. "Are you seeing somebody? Is it Lockwood?"
"He's been trying to wiggle his way back into my life, but no, it's not him." Bonnie said. "It's Liam. We've just been talking for awhile. We only just hung out for the first time the other day."
"After the game when you blew everybody off," Damon clarified. "I knew it."
"I didn't blow you guys off, I - " The waitress came at that moment with their food. Seeming to sense the tension at the table, she quickly dropped off the plates, then ghosted away. "Look, I haven't been trying to push you away, but sometimes a girl might choose a night of good conversation over being bent over a flat surface. At least a girl like me."
"That guy is a tool, Bonnie. He wants sex just like the rest of us. It's his endgame."
"You don't even know him," Bonnie argued. "That night you and I sat on the porch and talked, you opened up to me. After that, you shut down again and it went back to being all about sex. That's fine, but you couldn't have expected me to never find a deeper connection elsewhere."
"It'll seem deep until he scores. See how many 'deep' conversations you have after that."
"You don't even know what you're talking about."
"You mean to tell me he hasn't made a single move yet?" Damon quipped. "You went to his house, alone, and you both sat two feet apart on the couch and watched Disney movies the whole time?" They hadn't sat two feet apart. They'd enjoyed the movie in close vicinity, snacking on a bowl of popcorn, and halfway through Liam had put his arm around her. Bonnie let him keep it there.
"What we did is really none of your business," Bonnie scoffed.
"Well, you did say you'd stop sleeping with me when you found someone else to fuck so - "
"That's not what I said!"
"So, since you've been blowing me off I'm going to assume you're already fucking this guy!" There was a raging fire in his eyes. Nice-guy Damon had left the table. "Which means that you're not looking for a deeper connection, you're just taking dick where you can get it!"
"Fuck you!" Bonnie slightly rose out of her chair, but gripped onto the arms of it, using every fiber of her being to not sock him dead in the mouth.
"You wanted me to be an asshole to make this all easier for you, right?" Damon snapped. "Well, you got your wish!" He threw his fork down and got up from the table. Bonnie was left seething as he walked away, leaving her there alone.
The next day Bonnie went shopping. She learned from Caroline, if you needed to clear your head or blow off some steam, or just do something nice for yourself, shopping was the answer. She already had an armful of bags, stuffed with expensive clothes, perfumes, underwear, and shoes, by the time she ventured into the fourth store. Mystic Falls' shopping district was very limited when it came to designer clothes, you had to go out-of-town if you really wanted supreme fashion choices, but it would do this time around.
Bonnie's phone rang as she studied a cute black and white mini-dress that would go perfectly with a pair of heels she'd just purchased. She rummaged through her bags and managed to pull the phone out just before the caller gave up. "Hello?"
"Hey, I was just about to hang up," Liam said.
"Sorry, I kind have my arms full here," Bonnie replied.
"In that case, I'll make it quick," he said. "I got Fast and Furious 2. After your many comments about Paul Walker's blue eyes during the first one, I figured you'd be excited to see the next one. They're just as blue in this one." He chuckled and Bonnie smiled.
"That sounds cool," she said. "Are you free tomorrow night?"
"I am now."
"Why don't we go to dinner first?" Bonnie suggested, feeling a slight spike of nervousness. "Then we can watch the movie after."
"Hold up...are you asking me out, Bonnie Bennett?"
Bonnie chuckled. "I think I am, Liam Davis."
"Wow, I feel like I just won the lottery," he said, humorously. "Tomorrow night it is. I can't wait."
"Neither can I," she said, grabbing the black-and-white dress off the rack. This was going to be her first official date in six years. She had to look her best.
When Bonnie arrived home she was surprised to see a familiar car parked in the driveway. She grabbed all of her bags from the backseat, then made her way into the house. She could hear voices coming from the kitchen and walked in to see Grams with a Salvatore, pulling out the best china. Bonnie's brow furrowed in confusion.
"Um...hi?" She said. They both looked back and smiled at her.
"You finally made it home!" Stefan exclaimed. His eyes widened at the sight of all her shopping bags. "Did you go shopping for a small village first?"
"No," she said, elongating the 'o'. "What are you guys doing?"
"I made Sunday dinner," Grams offered.
"She invited me," Stefan said. "Don't you remember? You told me about it a long time ago."
"Oh, that's right," she said. "I completely forgot. You should've reminded me, Grams. I would've helped you cook."
"It's all right, chile," Sheila replied, with a dismissive wave of the hand. "You've been in such a bad mood since yesterday, I figured you needed some time to yourself." Bonnie hadn't realized her emotions were so easily detected. Damon had severely pissed her off the day before, and hurt her feelings, though she'd yet to admit that to herself. Leaving her alone in that restaurant was a major dick move, and the fact that he'd stopped inside to pay the bill didn't excuse his behavior. He hadn't made contact since then, and she sure as shit wasn't going to. As far as she was concerned, they were done.
Promising a quick return, Bonnie went into her room and deposited the bags onto the bed. The dining table had already been set and Grams and Stefan were ready to eat. Stefan approached her as she was getting the last platter of food from the kitchen to bring to the table.
"Everything all right with you?" He asked, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder.
"I'm fine, Stefan," she said with a small smile that didn't reach her eyes.
"Are you sure, Bo?" He pressed and she nodded. "So, you don't want to tell me what happened yesterday that put you in a bad mood?"
"It was nothing," she said, dismissively. "It was just one of those days where nothing goes how you want it to. I'm fine now."
"Okay, well, if you want to talk about it later I'm here." He took the food from Bonnie, despite her protests, and they went into the dining-room to eat. Sheila's cooking was just as good as always, and Bonnie was sure she would gain a pound or two by the end of the meal. Stefan didn't seem to care as he went for seconds.
"I forgot how good your food is, Miss Sheila," he gushed as he scooped more macaroni and cheese onto his plate. "I'll make it a point not to miss your next dinner."
"Thank you, Stefan," Sheila replied with a smile. "Where's Miss Elena tonight?"
"Working," he responded. "She really wanted to come though."
"You can make her a plate," Sheila told him and Stefan voiced his gratitude. "You're going to marry that girl?"
"Grams..." Bonnie's tone held an implication for her grandmother to mind her business.
"I'm just asking."
"No, it's okay," Stefan said with a laugh. "I think I will, Miss Sheila. I hope too. I love her very much."
"I know. I've seen it in the way you look at her," Sheila stated. Bonnie rolled her eyes when she wasn't looking. Sheila swore she could read a couple's entire relationship just by their body language. She had called that she and Tyler wouldn't work out about a year ago, but for Bonnie, that was neither here nor there. "I just hope that Bonnie finds something like that."
"Grams, don't start..."
"All I'm saying is that I want you to be happy and marry a man that deserves you," Sheila elaborated. "Like I told you before, I don't ever want you to rush into anything, but I do want some more grandbabies before my time is up."
"Don't talk like that," Bonnie snapped. "You're going to live forever, okay? And I won't be ready for any of that for a long time, but if it makes you feel any better, I have a date tomorrow night. A real one."
"You do?" Stefan asked, incredulously.
"You don't have to sound so surprised," Bonnie quipped.
"No, it's just that I didn't know you were dating again," Stefan clarified. "Who's the guy?"
"It's Liam?"
Stefan's faee scrunched. "Really? That guy?"
"Yes, that guy! I like him, okay?" Bonnie cried, defensively. Stefan held his hands up in a defensive manner, as well.
"Okay, I'm sorry, I was just asking," he said, innocently. "You just didn't seem all that into him the first time we met him."
"I've gotten to know him since then," Bonnie stated.
"I hope this keeps that brother of y-" Sheila started to say.
"Grams!" Bonnie cried, cutting off her grandmother's coming revealing statement. "Can you pass me the potatoes, please? And let's talk about something else besides my love life? Okay?"
Bonnie managed to keep her Grams from accidentally snitching on her for the rest of the meal, and she was on her the instant Stefan dismissed himself from the table. "Grams, please don't say anything about Damon and I," She practically begged.
"You haven't told your best friend that you hang out with his older brother?" Sheila asked her purposefully. "If you two are just friends, why don't you want him to know?"
"Because he won't believe Damon is capable of being just friends with a girl, no one does, and he'll assume Damon is trying to take advantage of me, and I don't want to hear his mouth about it and...I have a million reasons, Grams, can we please keep that information between us for now?"
Sheila rolled her eyes but agreed. Stefan came back to the table and looked at his friend expectantly when he took a seat. "So, Bonnie...tell us more about this guy, Liam."
Four missed calls and six text messages, all from Damon. Bonnie was going to continue to ignore him until he got the hint. Her phone was ringing again as she was getting ready for her date with Liam. She didn't give it a second glance as she wiggled into her dress. There was a knock on the front door, but she assumed her Grams, who was stationed at her usual spot on the couch, would answer it.
"Bonnie!" She heard her Grams call a minute later. "You have a guest!" Bonnie panicked. Liam wasn't supposed to be picking her up for another forty-five minutes. She hadn't even finished putting on her make-up yet. She opened her door and poked her head out.
"Tell him I'm not ready yet!" She exclaimed.
"It's me, Bonnie." Bonnie bristled at the sound of Damon's voice. She didn't have time for this.
"Tell him I don't want to see him!" Bonnie called, then slammed her door. She sat in front of the mirror and proceeded to finish her make-up, but she couldn't get over the fact that Damon had showed up uninvited. She sucked her teeth when she received a text notification, snatching her phone up.
Sheila kicked me out of the house. Can you pls come outside and talk to me. I only need a min.
Bonnie knew there was a strong chance he wouldn't go away until she did, and she definitely didn't want him there when Liam arrived. Letting out a cry of frustration she stormed out of her room.
"That boy is still outside, looking like a lovesick puppy," Sheila quipped as Bonnie walked past her.
"Thanks for kicking him out, Grams," Bonnie said, her hand on the doorknob. "I'll get rid of him for good."
Sheila snorted. "Good luck."
Bonnie stepped outside to find Damon leaning on his Camaro. He immediately straightened as she came down the steps. "If you haven't figured it out, I have a date and no time for your bullshit!" She snapped, angrily. "You have exactly one minute. Go!"
"I was a dick to you," he said, quickly. "I was out of line, and I'm sorry. I've really enjoyed what we've had going and, me being me, had to screw it up." He stepped closer to her. "I like you, Bonnie. I've always liked you, but it's been different now that you've actually allowed me to like you. I was acting stupid and jealous yesterday because I am. I don't want to share you."
"I'm not yours to share," Bonnie stated, coldly. "This was exactly what wasn't supposed to happen, we were supposed to lead our own separate lives, and only come together to have some fun. It wasn't supposed to become this ugly thing where we're fighting over who else we're seeing. Not once have I asked you how many girls you've been with since you've been back. Not once. I don't want to know, and frankly, it's none of my business. I'm not your girl, I have no claim on you."
"Ask me now."
"What?"
"Ask me how many girls I've been with since I've been back," he commanded.
Bonnie shook her head. "I'm not doing that," she said. "Thinking about how many women you've bedded-"
"Two!" He exclaimed, holding up two fingers for emphasis. "For the past year, I've only been with two women, Rebekah and you! That may be hard for you to believe, but it's true. It would be real easy for me to go to the bar and bang the hottest chick there, and I have thought about it, but that's not fun for me anymore. There's no point when I have you. You're insanely hot, you're the only person who can make me laugh anymore, you're intelligent and driven, you're feisty and passionate, and everything I want in a woman! These other girls don't compare to you, Bonnie. You're the only one I want in my bed. So, yeah, the thought of you sharing yours with another man makes me a little crazy."
Bonnie sucked in then released a deep breath. She had only expected a half-assed apology followed by a sexual proposition from Damon. "You have really helped me get through a tough time," she said, calmly. "That was the purpose of all this. I don't want a rebound relationship. I would just be setting myself up to be hurt again."
"I don't want a rebound relationship, either," Damon said. "It doesn't need to be a relationship but it doesn't have to be just sex either. Whatever you think you're getting from this guy, you can get from me. You can talk to me about anything, we can have those late-night conversations. We can just hang out." Damon gently cupped Bonnie's face. "Don't go on this date, Bonnie. I can take you out, anywhere you want to go."
"I'm not going to blow Liam off to go on a date with you," Bonnie told him. "That's not right and it's not fair to him. I've been taking it slow and he's been patient. I have no plans to rush into a relationship with him, Damon."
"Then go to dinner with him and let him down easy," Damon requested. "End it there. Don't go home with him."
"You can't dictate my life, Damon."
He snatched his hand away from her face. "Listen, I made it clear where I stand," he said in an agitated tone. "I'm not going to be competing with this asshole for your time. I don't share my women!"
"I'm not yours!" Bonnie shouted.
"That's not what you said when you were fucking me!" Damon shouted back. Bonnie responded by sending a sharp, stinging slap across his face.
"You need to go. Now." She spoke through gritted teeth as she fought back tears.
"Bonnie..."
"I've had enough of your disrespect," she snapped. "Go."
Damon stepped back, and after a brief moment of contemplation, walked off. "Have fun on your date," he remarked snidely, as he rounded the car. "Hope it works out for you." He got in the car and gave the door a good slam before starting it up and peeling away like he was looking for an accident.
"You have beautiful eyes."
Liam hadn't taken his eyes off of Bonnie since they'd sat down in the upscale, and pricey seafood restaurant in the next town over from Mystic Falls. Bonnie didn't mind being a passenger in Liam's Audi for the twenty minutes it took to get there. As Bonnie was eating her food, Liam was drinking her in like she was the only woman in the room.
"Thank you." She replied to his compliment with a smile. She'd tried to maintain a smile throughout the date but she couldn't get her last encounter with Damon out of her head. It was almost keeping her from enjoying herself.
"It seems like something's been on your mind all night," Liam observed. "You know you can talk to me."
"It's nothing, really," Bonnie said. "Just had a fight with one of my friends."
"Was it serious?"
"Serious enough that I don't think we're going to be friends anymore," she replied, sadness creeping into her tone.
"If this person really cares about you, and they mean a lot to you, I'm sure you guys will be able to work it out," he advised. "Good friends are hard to come by. You want to hold on to the ones you have."
Bonnie nodded. "I think you're right," she said. "Thanks for that."
"No problem. It's funny, because we've talked so much, I already feel like I've known you for years." The conversation moved along and after a second glass of wine, Bonnie loosened up. They held hands as they stepped out of the restaurant and waited for valet to bring his car around. The night was cooling down, causing Bonnie to slightly shiver. She felt Liam's jacket being draped over her shoulders right after. She gave him a smile and he wrapped his arm around her, bringing her body closer to his and she leaned into him, basking in his body heat.
When they were finally in the car and back on the road, Liam asked her, "So what are you thinking? We could go to my place and watch the movie, or we could go somewhere else first. There's this place by Five Mile Pond that has really good ice-cream."
"Sounds good to me," Bonnie replied and Liam smiled.
Thirty minutes later they were walking toward the pond, ice-cream in hand. They found a bench overlooking it and took a seat, Liam notably leaving little space between them. "I've had such a good time tonight," Bonnie said, scooping up a spoonful of her birthday cake ice-cream.
"I hope that means there's a second date in our future," Liam said, hopefully.
"We'll see how the rest of the night goes first," Bonnie replied, jokingly.
"I'll be sure not to screw it up," he promised. He put his arm up on the top of the bench and she scooted closer to him, wrapping his jacket tighter around her. He brought his arm down around her. "I was starting to think you would never ask me out. I was kicking myself for agreeing to your terms."
"I just needed a little bit of time."
"This was worth the wait," he said, softly. "And I'm going to have to send Elena a thank-you gift for introducing us." Bonnie chuckled. She would have to express her gratitude for Elena's inadvertent match-making as well. It would come in the form of words, though.
As the night wound down and it grew colder, they decided it was time to go. When they walked back to Liam's car, he moved in front of the passenger door to open it for her, then hesitated as he gazed at her. "Is everything okay?" Bonnie asked with a raised brow.
Liam stepped closer to her. Bonnie waited expectantly. "I've been dying to do this since I met you," he preceded, before bringing his lips to hers. The kiss was soft, and they lingered for a moment before pulling away. Bonnie opened her eyes and met his. When she didn't protest, he went back in for another. He placed both of his hands to her face as his mouth drank hers in with more ardor. He kissed her like he meant it, he kissed her like he was doing all he could to impress her. And throughout it all, Bonnie felt nothing.
It wasn't even midnight by the time Damon returned home. After calling up his drinking buddies, Lorenzo and Alaric, to hit the bar and get wasted, he ended up cutting out early after drinking far less than the amount required to get a heavyweight like him drunk. He just wasn't feeling being there like he thought he would be, and wanted to go home and soak in his misery. He'd never felt this unhappy while single before. That had changed because of one girl. One girl who used to bring him nothing but headaches when they talked.
Stefan was out with Elena so the house was quiet. He tossed his keys on the dresser as he entered his bedroom, then shrugged out of his signature black, leather jacket. His brow furrowed at the sound of the shower going in his bathroom. He would've never left that on. He made his way into the bathroom, unsure of what he'd find. The glass doors were fogged from the heat of the water, so he walked over and pulled it open.
A nude Bonnie was standing directly under the stream. Damon was taken aback by the sight of her, her immaculate body on full display, the water dripping down her mocha skin. He'd never seen a sight so beautiful. Bonnie looked at him and said nothing as it was all in her eyes. Damon didn't say a word either as he pulled his shirt over his head. Bonnie watched him strip down before he stepped into the shower. She stepped back and he stood under the stream, his eyes fixed intently on hers. She gazed up at him as the water flattened his hair and flowed down his chest, past his abs, onto his well-endowed manliness.
She placed a hand onto his chest and it slowly traveled up to around his neck. Damon then grabbed her and kissed her with his life. Their bodies were brought closer together as their mouths fused together. No words had to be spoken between two. She'd made her choice. In that shower, Damon claimed her body in a more passionate way than he'd ever had.
At the New Orleans International Airport, a beautiful blonde boarded a first-class, red-eye flight to Virginia. Rebekah Mikaelson was officially on a mission, and she wasn't one to give up until she got what she wanted. She wanted her man back, and she was going to get him.
A/N: Hope you enjoyed. Stefan won't be in the dark too much longer, and of course with Rebekah comes drama. I'm really excited to get into it. Thanks for reading, you guys are the best. :)
